5 Common VPN Myths You Shouldn’t Believe

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to connect to the Internet through a server that is under the control of a VPN provider. The information that goes through your device or computer and the VPN server is encrypted.

Thanks to VPN, you can now safely use WiFi hotspots without worrying that your information will be eavesdropped on. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and some of them are less secure than others. Here are some VPNs myth you should take a look at.

1. The Free One Is as Good as the Paid Ones

I’m sure you’ve heard of that saying that if something is too good to be true, it probably is. The same thing applies to VPNs. You probably think that the VPN app you’re using is protecting your data and not asking for anything in return.

That sounds like a heartfelt gesture, but you’re probably giving up information you don’t know about. I mentioned earlier that to protect your data it goes through a VPN server. That server is not free, and the app needs to pay for that in some way.

With a free VPN, the speed is usually affected. Don’t get me started on the bandwidth usage part. You’re probably also giving up personal information such as your email address, browsing data, and other information, or even have ads injected into your browsing session.

2. Your Internet Connection Suffers a Lot with a VPN

Some say that VPNs will slow down your Internet connection while others may say that it won’t. The truth is that your Internet connection will be slower, but it’s not going to be so much and you won’t even notice it.

This is only the case if you use a reliable VPN service. Since not all VPN services are the same, if you do experience a drop in your Internet speed, it is usually because of the following reasons.

The first reason is that the encryption is high-quality and uses CPU speed.

The second reason could be because there are a lot of users on the server. There’s also the possibility that the physical server is too far away from your location or you have a weak Internet connection to begin with.

If you connect to a VPN that is close to your location, then the difference in speed won’t be that significant.

3. VPNs Are Only Needed in Illegal or Suspicious Activities

Some users might use a VPN for things such as watching something that is only available in a particular country or getting past a restriction their government might have set up. While these are cases where a VPN is necessary, you should use a VPN as much as you can.

Remember that VPN encrypts your data, so if someone were to hack into your home WiFi, your information would sill be safe. As you can see, VPNs are a good idea even if you’re at home reading the latest online tech news.

4. VPNs Will Protect Me from Anything While I’m Online

The short answer is no, it won’t. Even if you’re online with the VPN enabled, you can still get into some pretty serious trouble if you’re careless. You’re still exposed to phishing scams and viruses, and the list of threats goes on and on. Read up on Internet safety and always have your VPN, and you’ll be okay.

5. It Doesn’t Matter What VPN I Use

It does matter what VPN you use since not all of them offer good quality encryption. Some VPNs only offer low-quality encryption while others can provide industry-leading secure encryption systems.

What should you look for in a good VPN? A VPN you can trust will offer you a large variety of features, connectivity protocols, server location, and prices. When it comes to protocol, the one that is commonly used is SSL, but you will come across others such as PPTP, L2TP, IPSec, etc. You should be okay with either one of these.

If what you’re worried about is state-sponsored snooping, then you should get a VPN that doesn’t operate in the country you live in. Why? Because it will be subject to the laws of that country, and they could hand over information about you if the government ever asks for it.

Before choosing a VPN, you should also be aware of the logging policies. Make sure you know what information it will ask in return.

Conclusion

With so many cases of users privacy being violated, it’s only natural that VPNs are going to be used. But, if you’re not careful with which one you use, you could be giving out the exact information you’re trying to protect.